James d



J. D. BACON;

Shell Fuse.

Patnted June 22, 1869.

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N. PETERS. Plwto'ulhographur, Wmhingtnn, D. C.

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JAMES D. BACON. NEW YORK, N. Y.

Lam Patent No. 91,701, dated June 22, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHELL-FUSES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

l'o-all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, James D. BACON, of the city,

county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Case Fuses for Projectiles; and I do'hereby declare the following to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 represents an external view of one of the paper-case fuses, constructed after my plan;

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal central section through the same;

ing and protecting the plaster-covered central tube of the fuse by means of paper, which may be stiffened, and coated with plumbago, soap-stone, or any other anti-friction substance, so as to allow a rammer to be used in charging the fuse. I I

Difliculties heretofore have arisen in the ramming of the powder. The danger isof breaking off the ball of the brass tube, and destroying the plaster around the said tube. My inventionis to prevent this result.

To enable others skilled in. the art to make and use my invention, 1 will proceed to describe the same, with reference to the drawings.

A represents the paper case,.w.hich is made slightly tapering, as shown in the drawings, and of sufficient rigidity for the purpose, by winding 21. paper slip spirally on a mandrel, and pasting or gluing the lappings, so as; to forma tube of considerable strength. arepresents the water-cap, which is tightly fitted into the front end of the paper-case fuse after it is charged-with the powder. This cap, as shown, has a scz'ew-thread out upon it, so that it may be screwed into the end of the paper case. Any other equivalent fastening will answer.

' A hole, 0, is bored directly through and through the cap a, in the line of the long axis of the fuse, and another hole, 0, is bored through ,and through it, at right angles to, and intersecting the hole- 0.

f represents the central tube, which is made of brass, (for convenience and oheapness,) and.slightly tapering. This tube f is covered with plaster of Paris, or any other non-conducting material, '5, and outside of this heat-resisting material itis further ignites that in the fuse proper.

covered with paper, j, which paper may be stiffened and fastened by glue or its equivalent, and then covered or-dusted with plumbago, soap-stone, or other lubricator, so as to allow a'rammer tobe used in ramming the powder into the fuse-case around said centraltube.

At the top of the central tube f is set the balln, which is held in its place by the plaster first, and the plaster is strengthened by the paper covering, or cylinderj, outside of it, the paper, atthat point, being a cylinder, and projecting'beyond the brass tube f.

The paper case, the central tube, and the water cap, being prepared as above described, the central tube, with the plaster, ball, and'papcr, properly attached into one, is inserted in the paper case, and the powder m then rammed in. Space is left in the top of the paper case for the insertion of the water-cap, or the place for it may be-made byremoving enough powder to allow it to be screwed in.

When the cap is screwed or otherwise fastened into thefront of the-paper case, and the fuse o inserted in or through the water-cap, the fuse is ready for use.

When the projectile is fired from the gun, the fuse o is ignited, which burns the powder in the holes in the water-cap, and the burning of this packed powder When the projectile strikes, the ball a drops, the plaster is broken, and the flame can pass directly through the tube f to the interior of the projectile,

and thus instantaneously explode it; and this flame is directed towards the interior of the projectile, the water-cap preventing it from escaping, except in a very small degree, atthat end of the fuse-case.

I should have remarked that the exterior end of the water-cap is recessed to receive the packed powder, and its holes being also so packed, no moisture can get into the fuse. The screwastening, between the water-cap and the paper case, makes that joint tight enough to prevent the fire from escaping through it, and also tight enough to prevent moisture from entering to any injurious extent.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the central tube of a papercase fuse-stock, that is covered or surrounded by plaster, or other non-conductor, an exterior paper cover? ing for said tube, substantially as described.

JAMES D. BACON.

Witnesses:

HENRY O. T. F. Mnnso'rr, J. W. Cnnmnurs. 

